How to Use iPhone Speakerphone

Speakerphone is a commonly used feature that allows an iPhone phone call to play the sound output through the devices speakers rather than only the ear speaker or headphones. Many people use speakerphone as a method of hands-free phone usage, for when their hands are occupied with other tasks, or even for allowing a phone call to be heard by multiple people in a room. Speakerphone on iPhone is very easy to use, but if you’re new to the iPhone platform it’s possible that you’re not familiar with how it works, how to active speakerphone, and how to turn it off once it’s on.

Many iPhone users likely already know how to use speakerphone, so this article is obviously not for you if you’re adept in this stuff. Instead this is aimed at newer and beginner iPhone users who are less familiar with some of the features of the device.

You can make a call and immediately place it on speakerphone, or you can put any active call onto speakerphone on the iPhone at any time. However you want to use it, accessing the feature is simple, and the same. Likewise, you can disable speakerphone at any time. Let’s review how to perform both actions.

How to Use Speakerphone on iPhone Phone Calls

Enabling speakerphone on iPhone is easy and works the same on virtually every iPhone ever made, here’s all you need to do:

Make a phone call on iPhone as usual, either through the Phone app or the Contacts app

When the phone call is either dialing out, or currently active, look at the iPhone screen with the active phone call

Tap the “Speaker” button on the screen to place the iPhone into speakerphone mode, it will become highlighted to indicate Speaker is active

That’s it, your iPhone is now using speakerphone mode. The iPhone will now play all audio from the phone call through the devices external speakers rather than the earphone piece.

You can also use Speakerphone mode with a FaceTime Audio call from an iPhone if desired, it works the exact same way.

Note that if you are not currently at the Phone app screen when on a phone call, say you’re at the Home Screen or in an app instead, you will need to return to the Phone app in order to place the call onto speaker phone, or to disable speakerphone for that matter.

How to Disable Speakerphone on iPhone

Disabling speakerphone on iPhone is just as easy. You can turn off speakerphone at any point when it’s active, either when a call is dialing, or when a phone call is already in place and you just want to take it off speakerphone mode.

On an active phone call, look at the iPhone screen

Tap the “Speaker” button so that it is no longer highlighted to turn off speakerphone

You can toggle off, or back on, speakerphone at anytime on any active phone call.

Again this works the same on a regular phone call, or with a FaceTime Audio VOIP call.

Nokia Lumia has a proximity feature, you can toggle between speakers and earspeaker automatically by only taking the phone off from the proximity of your ear and placing it back. Why is that not possible with pricey iphones?

It sounds like you left the Phone app while on the phone call, that can happen from a swipe gesture or by hitting the Home button.

Open the Phone app again to return to the iPhone Phone call, whether on speaker phone or not. The Phone app is a green button with a phone icon on it. From within the Phone app you can switch on speaker phone or turn off speakerphone.

You can also tap the green glowing phone icon in the top of the screen to return to the phone app if you’re on a call but go back to Home screen or elsewhere on iPhone.